Saxifraga plant named ‘SH 1911’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Saxifraga  plant named ‘SH 1911’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; leaves that have dark green-colored upper surfaces and greyed purple-colored lower surfaces; and numerous bright white-colored flowers held about the foliar plane.

Botanical designation: Saxifraga cortusifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SH 1911’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Feb. 18, 2020, application number 2020/0511. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Saxifraga plant, botanically known as Saxifraga cortusifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SH 1911’.

The new Saxifraga plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Saxifraga plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration.

The new Saxifraga plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in October, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia identified as code number 2013-44, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and a proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia identified as code number 2013-459, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Saxifraga plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in September, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Saxifraga plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since May, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Saxifraga plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Saxifraga have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SH 1911’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SH 1911’ as a new and distinct Saxifraga plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Leaves that have dark green-colored upper surfaces and greyed         purple-colored lower surfaces.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Bright white-colored flowers held above the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Saxifraga differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Upper surfaces of leaves of plants of the new Saxifraga are         lighter green in color than the upper surfaces of leaves of         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are bright white in         color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection         are creamy white in color.

Plants of the new Saxifraga differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Upper surfaces of leaves of plants of the new Saxifraga are         dark green in color whereas upper surfaces of leaves of plants         of the male parent selection are red in color.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are brighter white in         color than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Saxifraga can be compared to plants of Saxifraga cortusifolia ‘SH 1925’, not patented. Plants of the new Saxifraga differ primarily from plants of ‘SH 1925’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Upper surfaces of leaves of plants of the new Saxifraga are         lighter green in color than the upper surfaces of leaves of         plants of ‘SH 1925’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are bright white in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘SH 1925’ are pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Saxifraga plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Saxifraga plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SH 1911’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SH 1911’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Saxifraga production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Saxifraga cortusifolia ‘SH 1911’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Saxifraga             cortusifolia disclosed as code number 2013-44, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Saxifraga             cortusifolia disclosed as code number 2013-459, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant in vitro.—About 36 to             42 days at temperatures about 22° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to brown in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse to medium             density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to             outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit with flowers             held above the foliar plane; overall plant shape, broadly             inverted triangular; moderately vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 11.1             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 24.8 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; alternate             and single.         -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform in outline.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acute.         -   Base.—Deeply truncate to hastate, lobes free.         -   Margin.—Serrate and palmately lobed with about nine lobes             per leaf; sinuses shallow to medium in depth and convergent.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent;             moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;             lobes tinged with close to 181A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to between 60C and N77B; towards the margins,             close to 177A. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close             to between NN137A and 147A; distal lobes, tinged with close             to 200A; venation, close to between NN137A and 147A             occasionally tinged with close to N200A. Fully developed             leaves, lower surface: Close to between N77B and 186A;             distal lobes, tinged with close to 187C; venation, close to             197B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 8.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Weak. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Mostly smooth, glabrous and distally sparsely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 183B to 183C.         -   Stipules.—Arrangement: Two at the base of the petiole.             Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color, upper             surface: Close to 182B. Color, lower surface: Close to 185C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Rotate flowers arranged in terminal             compound corymbs; freely flowering habit with about 100             flowers per inflorescence and about 1,000 flowers developing             per plant; flowers face mostly upright to slightly             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six             months after planting; plants flower naturally from the late             summer into the winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two weeks; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 182A.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 22.7 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.2 cm by 1.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, occasionally             six, arranged in a single whorl; upper three or four petals             are smaller than lower one or two petals. Length, upper             petals: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Width, upper petals: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Length, lower petals: About 1.1 cm to 1.3 cm.             Width, lower petals: About 2.5 mm to 4 mm. Shape, upper             petals: Ovate. Shape, lower petals: Oblanceolate to             elliptic. Apex, upper petals: Bluntly acute to obtuse. Apex,             lower petals: Bluntly acute to obtuse to occasionally             emarginate. Base, upper and lower petals: Attenuate. Margin,             upper petals: Entire; not undulate. Margin, lower petals:             Mostly entire, occasionally sparsely serrate; not undulate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower petals, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Color,             upper and lower petals: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 157C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 157B; venation, close to 157B; with development, color             becoming closer to 157A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 157B; venation, close to 157B; with development, color             becoming closer to between 145D and 157B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Oblong.             Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N148C;             towards the margins and apex, close to 182B. When opening,             lower surface: Close to N148D tinged with close to 184C.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N148B; towards the             margins and apex, close to 182B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N148D tinged with close to 184C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: About 15° from vertical; secondary peduncles, about             35° from main peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately weak.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 174A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Aspect: About 35° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Sparsely to moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 148A to 148B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             twelve. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close             to NN155D. Anther shape: Double reniform. Anther size: About             0.5 mm by 0.6 mm. Anther color: Close to N77B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 29B. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: About three, occasionally two. Pistil             length: About 2.5 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.2 mm. Stigma             shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145D. Style             length: About 2.3 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Ovary             color: Close to N144A. Floral bracts: Quantity per flower:             One. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Color, upper             surface: Close to 147A; towards the base, close to 183B.             Color, lower surface: Close to 183A. Seeds and fruits: To             date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on             plants of the new Saxifraga. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Saxifraga have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −7° C. to about     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8b through 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Saxifraga     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Saxifraga plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Saxifraga plant named ‘SH 1911’ as illustrated and described. 